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Hardee County, FL Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts serving Hardee County, Florida. Compare the listed providers and contact an office directly.

Offices for Hardee County

Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
Wauchula

County veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the office for an appointment and ask what to bring.

307 N 6th Avenue, Wauchula, FL 33873

Veterans Services section: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; page footer separately lists Friday ending at 4:00 p.m.

For statewide phone and remote help, see the Florida directory.

Getting help in Hardee County

Hardee County Veterans Services - Wauchula: Contact the provider to confirm appointment requirements and the meeting location. Confirm the service location, hours and appointment with the provider before traveling.

County Veterans Service Officers Directory (opens in a new tab) · Hardee County Veterans Services (opens in a new tab)

Office closed right now?

Call the Claim Raven 24-hour VSO prep line to get your records ready before your appointment. Claim Raven is not a VSO office. Your VSO's number is listed above.

Call (833) 387-1649

Veterans in Hardee County

The ACS estimates about 976, give or take 190 civilian veterans in Hardee County.

Among Florida's 67 counties and equivalents, Hardee County ranks 63rd by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureHardee CountyFloridaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating23 percent

below the Florida share; below the national share.

31 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Hardee County has about 284, give or take 99 veterans 75 and older, making up 29 percent of its veterans compared with 30 percent in Florida.

Veterans under 35 account for 7 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Hardee County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Hardee County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Hardee County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureHardee CountyFloridaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$37,000 ± $2,312$52,753 ± $469$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$30,301 ± $2,067$36,879 ± $115$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over8.5% ± 5.3 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over42.0% ± 8.1 points31.0% ± 0.3 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6463.7% ± 20.3 points71.2% ± 0.5 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 17.6 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over90.3% ± 4.8 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over15.8% ± 6.8 points35.0% ± 0.4 points31.8% ± 0.2 points

Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.

VA projects fewer veterans here in 2035. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Hardee County

VA reports 262 veterans in Hardee County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent72
30 to 40 percent28
50 to 60 percent31
70 to 90 percent73
100 percent58

FY2019: 290 recipients. Change to FY2025: -28.

VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).

VA home loans in Hardee County

In 2025, lenders reported 19 VA-backed home loans out of 296 home loans made in Hardee County (6.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $308,000.

The 2026 FHFA one-unit county loan limit here is $832,750. This limit matters for a VA loan only when part of your entitlement is still tied to another VA loan. VA explains remaining entitlement and loan limits (opens in a new tab).

HMDA 2025 and FHFA 2026 sources.

When they served

The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 392, give or take 141) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 168, give or take 95; a small survey sample; treat as rough).

For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.

VA money in Hardee County

VA reported about $7.3 million in compensation and pension spending and about $7.1 million in medical care spending in Hardee County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Hardee County is C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Bay Pines, FL, about 63 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Hardee County is Sarasota Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Sarasota, FL, about 45 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists St. Petersburg RO (station 317); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Sarasota National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
9810 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241
877-861-9840

About 38.3 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Glennville (opens in a new tab)
8819 U.S. Hwy 301 Glennville, GA 30427
912-654-5398

About 308.7 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

This cemetery is in another state. State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules, which can include residency in that state.

National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.

Cleanup and former military sites in Hardee County

Formerly Used Defense Sites

Military branch is not listed in the USACE FY2024 property data.

These lists use site points within county boundaries. A site may extend into another county.

For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.

Veterans experiencing homelessness

On one night in January 2024, Hendry, Hardee, Highlands Counties CoC counted 30 veterans experiencing homelessness (0 sheltered, 30 unsheltered).

FL-517 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 1 veterans for the 2019 comparison.

This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.

If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.

Your nearest VA medical center by straight-line distance is James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (opens in a new tab), 813-972-2000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Hardee County

VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).

VA homeless programs (opens in a new tab)

Cities and towns in Hardee County

  • Wauchula (city): about 4,927 residents
  • Bowling Green (city): about 2,226 residents
  • Zolfo Springs (town): about 2,158 residents
  • Fort Green Springs (unincorporated community): about 762 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Lemon Grove (unincorporated community): about 547 residents
More places (4)
  • Gardner (unincorporated community): about 381 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Ona (unincorporated community): about 44 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Fort Green (unincorporated community): about 39 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Limestone (unincorporated community): about 25 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)

Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.

Free tools and help

For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)

Florida benefits

Qualifying Florida veterans with at least 10 percent disability may receive a $5,000 assessed value reduction.

Florida offers scholarships to eligible children and spouses of veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability.

See every Florida benefit by rating

Get ready for your appointment

  • Your DD-214 or other discharge papers
  • Any VA decision letters you have received
  • Medical records you want to discuss

Full appointment checklist

Starting a new claim? Ask about an intent to file

Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.

Search or filter Florida listings

Nearby counties

Sources and method

ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near Hardee County

Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.

Natalie Khawam

Attorney · Tampa · FL · About 44 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 33215

4.4 · 8 reviews

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Your request goes straight to Natalie Khawam's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

Brian Keisacker

Attorney · Sarasota · FL · About 41 miles away

VA-accredited since 2023 · checked

VA accreditation number 54005

4.9 · 405 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Brian Keisacker's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

Antony Turbeville

Claims agent · Lakeland · FL · About 32 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 21673

4.9 · 504 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Florida

Dax Lonetto

Attorney · Lutz · FL · About 44 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 9286

4.7 · 180 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Florida

Ben Vinson

Attorney · Tampa · FL · About 44 miles away

VA-accredited since 2016 · checked

VA accreditation number 38249

4.8 · 204 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Ben Vinson's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

VA-accredited attorneys in Florida

Claim Raven is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney or claims agent. Listings come from VA's public accreditation records. Paid placements are advertising. Check an attorney's accreditation on VA's accreditation search (opens in a new tab) before you hire them.

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